42 A F R I c A
cones. Long superior sagittal sinus visible, beginning a
bit behind bregma; splits into R and L transverse sinuses
internal to upper part of externally swollen superior oc-
cipital region. Transverse sinuses appear pathological; the
R continues further down than the L before fading out.
Beneath divergence of transverse sinuses is a moderately
broad, long internal occipital crest that separates the
shallow, posteriorly facing impression for L occipital lobe
from an even shallower R impression. As particularly
well preserved on the L, grooves for middle meningeal
vessels well impressed and posteriorly arborized.
R temporal missing most of squamosal, anterior
portion of petrosal, and most of zygomatic process.
Posterior root of zygomatic arch takes origin in front of
the horizontally ovoid, not very large auditory meatus;
appears to have expanded posteriorly into moderately
long a/p, not very m/l wide shelf Large part of articular
fossa lies under posterior root. Posteriorly, root flows
into a relatively sharp, well developed suprameatal crest
that flows in turn into a broad, upwardly curving, en-
larging supramastoid crest; crest is separated from mas-
toid process by a fairly deep, moderately s/i tall sulcus.
Mastoid process extends almost horizontally forward
before turning down toward its blunt, not very down-
wardly protruding tip. Mastoid notch very broad, deep,
and constricts width of mastoid process. Notch expands
markedly posteriorly, where it is delineated by well-
defined posterior and lateral margins. Very well-
developed, posteriorly extensive paramastoid crest lies
medial to notch. Bone medial to this is damaged; bone
anterior to mastoid notch also appears damaged. Base
of styloid process preserved quite medially, posterior to
ectotympanic tube. Laterally, tube appears to be bro-
ken; its bony wall was thick, at least posteroinferiorly.
Articular fossa partially preserved; was probably remo-
deled pathologically to be shallower and more extensive
laterally than it had originally been. Apparently there
was a substantial postglenoid plate medial to posterior
root of zygomatic arch.
Internally, a deep sigmoid sinus runs posteriorly
behind petrosal, so low down it would not have
crossed parietal. Subarcuate fossa entirely closed off.
No sign of superior petrous sinus. Superior surface of
petrosal broad, essentially flat, with only slightest hint
of eminence in middle.
L mandibular corpus fragment feels rolled and
polished; is preserved from symphyseal region to point
at which anterior root of ramus emerges. It is small (cf
small face but very large braincase), not very tall s/i,
not very wide b/l anteriorly. Above, it broadens post-eriorly; below, it tapers markedly to inferior margin.
Two foramina on outside of corpus (both fairly large
for size of specimen) are widely spaced and lie at
mid-depth of corpus. Because alveoli have largely
disappeared since their teeth were lost in life, it is
impossible to be certain which teeth these foramina lay
beneath. Anterior foramen is certainly the primary
mental foramen, and would have lain under P1 or P2.
Posterior foramen seems to be accessory. Roots of pre-
served molar stump quite splayed, as is most common
among Mls. (If this is an M1, mental foramen lay be-
neath P1. Alternatively, since rise of anterior root of
ramus is typically under more posterior molars, this
would be an M2, and mental foramen would be below
P2. The second alternative seems more likely, espe-
cially since large, partially resorbed alveolus in front of
anterior foramen is big, as one would expect of a ca-
nine; and since preserved molar is very small, there
would have been room for P1-M1 between this alveo-
lus and preserved molar stump. In any event, all teeth,
anterior and posterior, would have been very small.)
LI region appears to be fully represented; has been
remodeled to thin superior crest, right up to preserved
symphyseal region. Externally, essentially no symphy-
seal morphology (no midline keel, mental fossa, or s/i
thickened inferior margin); there may have been slight
midline swelling low down, above inferior margin. In
external profile, symphyseal region slopes steeply
down and slightly forward before curving gently and
then more strongly back into inferior margin. Viewed
from below, front of jaw is broadly curved across, with
some corporal thickening at midline. Tooth rows were
evidently quite divergent. Internally, postincisal plane
almost vertical. Far down, plane curves anteroinferi-
orly into well-defined genial pit, below which bone
curves tightly forward right into inferior margin. No
identifiable digastric fossa. Underneath presumed re-
gion of C is shallow depression on external surface,
just above inferior margin. No discernible mylohyoid
line or submandibular fossa.REFERENCES
Broom, R. 1918. The evidence afforded by the Boskop skull
of a new species of primitive man (Homo cupensis). Anthro-
pol. Pup. Am. Mus. Nut. Hist. 23: 63-79.
Broom, R. 1923. A contribution to the craniology of the
yellow-skinned races of South Africa. J. R. Anthropol. Inst.
53: 132-149.